Monday, September 18, 2006

The look of a happy Angeles Crest 100 mile finisher!I had a pretty good run even going into AC on 100 mile legs. I knew if I just put one foot in front of the other and kept positive I would finish.It always takes me about 6 hours to feel like I'm into the groove of the race.Before 20 miles I took a pretty good fall scraped my leg and really cut my hand up.Right before the mile 53 aid station I started getting a bladder infection. I knew I had cranberry juice there and I could put it in my hand held bottle.I wasn't drinking enough. It got better after a few hours.I just tried to remain positve. I know all my friends were sending me vibes I could feel it.I was really lonely during the night. There were no other runners around me. I knew at 2:15 am I would pick up Willem my pacer for the last 25 miles.

My MP3 was pretty much my pacer. I enjoyed just listening to my music and thinking about my past. I had so much going on in my head before I knew it I was at mile 69. It was cool at that aid station they had live video. I got to see my pacer and talk to him on video. Since I had never met him, it was cool to know who to look for.I picked Willem up at mile 75 and knew this was where my race starts. It's a long climb to the next aid station. It takes between 3-4 hours to get to the aid station.Willem was great he talked a lot which helped me up the big climb.I got super sleepy at 5:15 in the morning I even had to sit on the ground for a couple min. I took a no doz at got going again. I wasn't feeling good and Willem had some ginger which saved me.I was happy when we got to the aid station knowing we had only 16 miles to go.

I tried to do the math in my head when I would finish. For some reason I was off by an hour I thought I would finish in 31:45 but instead I finished in 30:41 my second fastest time.

We got to the last aid station and Jay was working and he had a vegan organic bar waiting just for me. I was very happy since I didn't have a drop bag there.

I was happy to finish in a good time. My feet were blistered and my legs were sore but I knew I could do it. Willem was awesome he kept me going. Sorry I was so quite at the end.

Thanks to all my friends who sent the vibes. Boy, did I get them when I needed them. Even though I was alone at times on the course, I really was never alone because all my wonderful friends were with me in spirit.

27 comments:

Nice report Catra. It is amazing how you can do these 100's back to back. I need at least 3 or 4 weeks to recover. I was tracking you at Wasatch and AC. Isn't the internet great? good Luck next week at RDL

I read here and elsewhere about your problems with blisters & taping your toes, just curious if you have ever tried the injinji (toed) socks?

I always had a problem between my 3th/4th toes, whether from running or soccer...I've now used the injinji socks for about 2-3 years (~30mi/week on trail/treadmill) without a SINGLE blister, in fact I no longer even have a callus on either foot.

I saw you at the AC this past weekend and you looked great. I was at Chantry when you came through and I could tell you were going to finish strong. I was pacing my friend to the finish but dehydration got to the best of him and he had to quit before San Merril. These runs are a definate test of wills and I am amazed by those who can finish only to do another a week later. I read your story a few years ago in a running magazine after seeing you for the first time at the AC in 2004. You certainly stand out. I hope to run a 100 one day but for now I will stick to 50Ks and 50milers. Keep up being an inspiration to so many.

Hey, great job on yet another 100!I need inspiration - and I spread it back around to my friends in Colorado.Ditto, squirrel_nutz, on injinji toe-sox, but I wear injinji inside another regular thin sock. Sock changes are slower, but if you wear two pair, you can change the outer sock each stop and the injinji every-other time.You are fantastic, Catra! Keep it up!>~~~~vibes~~~~<

I do wear injinji socks. It's not the toes it's my heal. I even taped them. They were still blistered from Wasatch. Wasatch & AC are just those course's that my feet always get a blister or two.I love the toe socks they rock!!!Catra

rundinarun-Thank you so much for the post. I'm sorry to hear your friend didn't finish. It's a tough course, I know this was my 5th finish. A lot of great runners dropped. I'm alaways sad when I see someone dropping it makes me sad. But it's best to be smart there are plenty of races to run :)

I been running by myself on weekdays and being with Scott on weekends. We have been hiking, and climbing. I don't think i'll do the firetrails this year. I would like to run the mission peak one of this day.Good luck this weekend. I'm sending you tons of positive vibes!

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Rocky Ridge

It's all about Ultrarunning

I love my life.

I am an Ultrarunner. I love to run, my favorite distance is 100 miles. My running takes me to many beautiful places. Life is too short to sit around.
I collect tattoos. I have over 50 tattoos.
I have been clean and sober for 17 years.